Judge Dennis Pearson dismissed a juror Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, during the Chavis Murphy murder trial at Vermont Superior Court in Burlington. The juror was questioned after mentioning he had seen a news article related to the trial.
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Chavis Murphy listens to his attorney Lamar Enzor tell the jury that no one saw Murphy shoot and kill 28-year-old Obafemi Adedapo in December of 2015 on Church Street. The closing statement was made just before the jury started deliberations in Vermont Superior Court in Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, to decide whether or not Murphy is guilty of murder. (Photo11: RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS)Buy Photo

A jury in a Burlington murder case will return to court Monday to continue deliberating after members failed to reach a verdict Friday.

The jury of eight men and four women are deciding the fate of Chavis Murphy, 26, who has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the December 2015 killing of Obafemi Adedapo, 28, of New York.

The jury deliberated for about six hours before breaking on Friday. When they resume Monday, they will listen to a recording of testimony they heard earlier this week from two eyewitnesses to the shooting.

Earlier Friday, defense attorney Lamar Enzor implored the jury to prevent a second tragedy by acquitting Murphy of murder.

Enzor said in closing arguments that the jury should acquit Murphy because no one saw who shot Adedapo. Enzor said the prosecution's case was based on speculation and assumption.

"The early morning events of December 27, 2015, were tragic," Enzor said. "You have the unique opportunity to prevent two tragedies, and that is the wrongful conviction of an innocent man based on assumption."

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Chavis Murphy's attorney Lamar Enzor gives his closing statement to the jury during Murphy's murder trial at Vermont Superior Court in Burlington on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018. Enzor said the state's case assumes everything but provides no witnesses and no facts linking Murphy directly to the shooting death of 28-year-old Obafemi Adedapo in December of 2015 on Church Street.(Photo11: RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS)

However, a prosecutor, Chittenden County Deputy State's Attorney Justin Jiron, said Murphy intended to kill Adedapo, and then fled the state in the aftermath. Jiron said the fact that Murphy was arrested days after the killing in a motel room in West Springfield, Massachusetts, could be the "best evidence of a guilty conscience."

Jiron said Murphy's motel room had large plastic bins of his belongings, several identifying documents torn up and in the trash, and a sweatshirt he had received as a gift for Christmas also crumpled and discarded. Murphy turned off his cellphone, which Jiron said is unusual for a person his age.

"Who does these things?" Jiron asked the jury. "Someone who is afraid of being arrested. Someone who knows they committed a horrible crime, and they’re afraid of getting caught.”

When authorities located Murphy, he began to ask how they found him and who turned him in, Jiron added.

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Chittenden County Deputy State's Attorney Deputy Justin Jiron makes his closing statement to the jury during Chavis Murphy's murder trial at Vermont Superior Court in Burlington on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018. Jiron said there are enough strong circumstances for the jury to find Murphy guilty in the shooting death of 28-year-old Obafemi Adedapo in December of 2015 on Church Street.(Photo11: RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS)

Jiron and Enzor also disagreed on the credibility of several eyewitnesses to the shooting. Jiron said jurors should trust two of Murphy's friends who testified against him, because there is no evidence they had a motive for speaking against their childhood friend.

One of those witnesses, Samuel Alexander, said he saw Murphy holding a gun and take several steps toward Adedapo shortly before shots rang out. Enzor said the story wasn't corroborated by any other eye witnesses.

"The real shooter got away," Enzor said.

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Surveillance video shows the scene on Church Street in Burlington on December 27, 2015, when Obafemi Adedapo was shot and killed. Chavis Murphy is being tried on first degree murder charges for the homicide.
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The jury was told to consider first whether to convict Murphy of first-degree murder, which carries a potential prison sentence of 35 years to life. If jurors find there is too little evidence for conviction, they could also consider second-degree murder, which carries a possible sentence of 20 years to life.

Three jurors were dismissed before deliberations — two alternates, and one who said he was aware of a Burlington Free Press report about the case, but had not read it.